Girl,12, set to represent Riley Hospital for Children and help other kids across the U.S.

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov. 11, 2014)-- 12-year-old Riley Lesh was born a fighter. Doctors at Riley Hospital for Children gave her a 50 percent chance of survival after she was born three months premature. Doctors told her parents there was a 90 percent chance she would have a lifelong disability.

Riley beat all odds. Now the healthy pre-teen is headed to our nation's capital and Disney to fight for other sick kids who benefit from children's hospitals.

Riley was named the 2014 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Champion. She will represent Riley Hospital for Children along with other champions from all over the country.

Riley took her role to the next level. She's participated in more than 140 Riley dance marathons to raise money for the hospital. She had the idea to make shoes for other dance marathon participants. She charges $15 for the shoes, that money also goes to the hospital.

"They need to know it's not just raising money its raising money for kids at Riley that are currently there. The dancers are there standing on their feet for kids that might not be able to stand,"​ said Riley.

Riley relates to other sick children who need help. She spent three months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Looking at old pictures from when she only weighed a little more than a pound inspires her to continue her mission to serve.

"I think wow how did i do that? I can't imagine I would be able to do that. These people that saved my life they're still working trying to save other people's life," said Riley.

Her champion's trip includes meeting First Lady Michelle Obama and celebrating Christmas with Mickey.